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Known to be part of projects like ‘Bombay Begums’, ‘Haddi’, actor and choreographer Ivanka Das has called Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher-starrer ‘Ghoomer’-the turning point of her career, and feels grateful to have great screen time in it.

Ivanka said that while all her projects have been close to her heart, ‘Ghoomer’ has been the one she treasures.

She says that it changed a lot of things for her.

“My first project was a Facebook ad. I auditioned and I got finalised and I agreed on doing it and that’s how my journey started. Later, I did a show for Netflix called Bombay Begums. That also happened through auditions only,” said Ivanka.

The ‘Maja Ma’ actor said: “My most prominent project is ‘Ghoomer’ and that is I think was the turning point. ‘Ghoomer’ is not my debut. I have worked before. but I am grateful and I...

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who is seen playing the character of Pramod Ahlawat in the crime drama ‘Haddi’, has opened up on his collaboration with actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the movie.

Directed by Akshat Ajay Sharma, the film stars Nawazuddin, Anurag and Zeeshan Ayyub in the lead. Nawaz plays the character of Haddi/Harika, while Zeeshan is seen as Irfan.

Anurag has directed Nawazuddin in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’, amongst others.

Anurag shared about working with Nawazuddin as a co-actor.

“Mujhe usko maarne me bahut maza aya, usko bhi mujhe maarne me bahut maza aya (I loved beating him and he also loved beating me). This is what our give and take was,” said Anurag.

Calling Nawzuddin a great friend, the 51-year-old director said: “Emotionally also I feel very close to him. There was no awkwardness. Hamne bhaut maze kie, usne bade shauk se mujhe mara, maine bade shauk se usko mara.

Actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who plays the love interest of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s transgender character of Harika in crime drama ‘Haddi’, spoke about his role, and said that the basic idea was to communicate the concept of true love between people irrespective of gender.

Directed by Akshat Ajay Sharma, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anurag Kashyap, and Zeeshan in the lead. Nawaz plays the character of Haddi/Harika, while Zeeshan is seen as Irfan.

Talking to Ians, Zeeshan spoke on the mental and physical toll such characters take on the actors.

“I don’t think there is any such toll on you. Some things of the character remain with you. There is always a give and take. It’s not a very intense but nice and tender character. And we had to achieve that softness. A tenderness should remain in their relationship,” he said.

“Romance should not be a special romance,...

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who is seen playing the character of Pramod Ahlawat in the crime drama ‘Haddi’, opened up on how he felt to be the poster boy of the movie, and talked about the preparations that went into the role.

Directed by Akshat Ajay Sharma, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anurag and Zeeshan Ayyub in the lead.

Nawaz plays the character of Haddi/Harika, while Zeeshan is seen as Irfan.

On how he felt to be the poster boy of the movie?

Anurag told Ians: “Awkward. I can’t get used to watching myself.”

The director was recently seen in a cameo role in web series ‘Made In Heaven 2’.

On saying he did a fabulous job in the show, Anurag replied: “Kaam to acha karna padta hai wanna gaaliyan padti pain.”

He further said: “Khud ko nahi dekh sakte hain aap. It’s awkward and surreal”.

What pointers he...

Ghoomer

Ghoomer is a very odd title for a film about a one-handed female bowler who learns the hard way to beat the odds. Like all of R. Balki’s unconventional yet mainstream films , this gem of a film moves at its own volition.

Outwardly Ghoomer looks like yet another rise-and-shine sports drama about a karma-traumatized cricketer and a burnt-out cricket coach who lives with his trans-gender adopted sister in a cottage in the wilderness . The location is a significant detail . It is here, far away from the deafening crowd that the emotionally gutted Anina (her name can be spelt forward and backward: a significant detail considering how determinedly she moves forward after life flings her backward) regains her mojo.

Watching Abhishek’s gruff act as the alcoholic former cricketer on an emotional slow-burn brings the actor closer to his darkest emotions than he has ever been before. Abhishek’s Padam Singh Sodhi,...

Abhishek Bachchan (“Dasvi”) and Saiyami Kher (“Faadu”) headline “Ghoomer,” a cricket and disability-themed film from R. Balki (“Chup”).

The film follows Anina (Kher), a young batting prodigy who loses her right hand in an accident. An unsympathetic, failed, alcoholic cricketer Paddy (Bachchan) gives her new hope and trains her as a spin bowler with unconventional techniques, inventing a new style of bowling called ghoomer, with the ultimate goal of playing for India. The title is a play on a form of Indian dance that involves twirling the body.

The film also has real-life trans woman Ivanka Das playing Paddy’s house help and adopted sister, veteran Shabana Azmi in a significant role, India’s leading film archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur making his acting debut in a pivotal part and Indian cinema legend Amitabh Bachchan playing himself. Murali Kartik who played cricket for the Indian national team for several years, was...